Sleeve pressing machine with movable support for the open end of the buck



June 6, 1950 c. MAXWELL SLEEVE PRESSING MACHINE WITH MOVABLE SUPPORT FOR THE OPEN END OF THE BUCK 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 6, 1945 w W aw em m I @t 0 A L I? U B,

. C. MAXWELL SLEEVE PRESSING MACHINE WITH MOVABLE SUPPORT FOR THE OPEN END OF THE BUCK Filed April 6, 1945 June 6, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig-Z June 6, 1950 I. c. MAXWELL 2,510,239

SLEEVE PRESSING MACHINE WITH MOVABLE SUPPORT FOR THE OPEN END OF THE BUCK Filed April 6, 1945 s Sheets-Sheet 3 u 63 |Z 62 I6 A ,V V SS. /-26 48/ 33 i Inverdror BIZ Ira C. Maxwell fitter-megs.

Jm le 6, 1950 I. C. MAXWELL SLEEVE PRESSING MACHINE WITH MOVABLE SUPPORT FOR THE OPEN END OF THE BUCK 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed" April 6, 1M5

l. c. MAXWELL 2,510,239

SLEEVE PRESSING MACHINE WITH MOVABLE SUPPORT FOR THE OPEN END OF THE BUCK 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 6, 1950 Filed April 6, 194$ 29 I, I I, I

L *3/25 254 24 L: X K: 68

fr I

ilgIFf-T 95 i cwm 80 '0" O 84- 3 84 RH I! x 69 L 9; we

III I I A Inventor:

Ira C. Maxwell Attorneys.

June 6, 1950 I. c. MAXWELL 2,510,239 SLEEVE PRESSING MACHINE WITH MOVABLE SUPPORT FOR THE OPEN END OF THE BUCK Filed April 6, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Pia-'7 Inventor" Ira. C. MQLXWZLL.

' 5 FM, fi w fitter-r1235 Patented June 6, 1950 The Unipress Company, Incorporated, Minne- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE apolis, Minn, a corporation of Minnesota Application April 6, 1945, Serial No. 586,951

4 Claims.

This invention relates to pressing machines and particularly to improvements in presses for pressing sleeves or similar tubular portions of apparel. In the pressing of tubular portions of apparel it is essential due to the tubular configuration of the garment to sleeve the garment or garment portion on the buck of the press. This has necessitated supporting the buck at one end, the other end being unsupported so as to allow the garment to be sleeved onto it. In the ensuing p'ressi'ng operation pressure is applied to the buck by the press head during the ironing operation and consequently an excessive strain is imposed on the one-end support of the buck. Difliculty has been encountered due to breakage at the point and also due to excessive downward deflection of the unsupported end of the buck during the pressing operation. In addition the relatively weak one-end support of the buck has precluded design of the press to allow heavy head pressure suitable for pressing double thicknesses of garments, such-as the cuffs at the end of shirt sleeves or lined sleeves.

I have discovered that these difficulties may be overcome by providing a movable support for the freeor normally unsupported end of the buck,

together with suitable press operated gear for bringing the movable support into supporting relation under the free end of the buck for the pressing operation, It is an object of the invention to provide such an improved pressing machine. It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved sleeve press, more particularly one having a buck shape and so supported so as to allow the pressing of a shirt sleeve and cuff portions in two lays. It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved sleeve press having provision .for supporting the normally free or unsupported end of the buck during the pressing operationallowing-about one-half of a sleeve and the alignedhalf of the normally double thickness cuff to be pressed in one lay and the remainderof thezsleeve and cuff to be pressed in a second lay, thus allowing the entire sleeve and attached, normally double thickness cuff to be pressed completely in two lays.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved press mechanism with a relatively movable support extending into and out of supporting relation with the open, normally unsupported end of the buck of a sleeve press, and to v junction with the movement of the press mechanism to pressing position on the buck. It is also an object of the invention to provide a new system of controls for a sleeve press and to provide automatic or pneumatic mechanism for actuation of the movable support for the normally unsupported end of the buck suchas a press.

Other and further objects of the invention are those inherent in the apparatus herein illustrated, described and claimed.

The invention is illustrated by the drawings in which Figure 1 is a front elevational View partly broken away of the pressing machine of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view from the right-hand end of the pressing machine shown in Figure 1, and showing the press head in the up or open press position;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view corresponding to that shown in Figure 2 except that the press head is in the closed or pressing condition;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary back elevational View taken in the direction of arrows 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view partly in section of a part of the press shown in Figures 1-3;

Figure 6 is a front elevational view partly in section of a modified form of the invention;

Figure 7 is a side elevational view from the right-hand end of the apparatus shown in Figure 6; and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a part of the press mechanism shown in Figure 6 illustrating the open press condition of operation.

Referring to Figures 1-5 the press includes a frame generally designated in having a floor plate H by which the machine may conveniently be bolted to the fioor. The frame ID is normally of channel construction, open at the rear, so as to provide space for the press operating mechanism, not illustrated, which may conveniently be of the type shown in Patent No. 2,265,- 449 or any other suitable press operating mechanism. The cylinder sizes and the mechanical advantage of the press operating mechanism are chosen so as to provide requisite press head pressure for the work being done. Thus, where the present invention is used for simultaneous cuff and sleeve pressing the press head pressure is made sufficient to iron the normally double thickness culf.

To the upper portion of the frame Hi there is attached a work table [2 having a rear upwardly extending apron l3 which forms a convenient support for the garments undergoing pressing. From the left upper portion of the frame In there extends a U-shaped frame generally designated l6 which is bolted to the main frame H! by means of bolts I l. The U-shaped frame extends up through the table 42 and forms a support for the buck generally designated I8. The end IQ of frame [6 is the normal and permanent support for the buck I 8.

The buck I8 is of generally V-section as shown in Figure 3 and usually tapers from the supported to the normally unsupported end, having its maximum vertical thickness at the left end 2! and its minimum vertical thickness at the right end 22. The buck is normally constructed of heavy steel plate of welded construction or it may be of cast construction if so desired. The buck is provided with a buck pad indicated by the dotted lines 24, Figures 2 and 3 which conform to the tapered form of the buck. The buck padding 24 is of resilient construction and is capable of deformation in use. The interior of the buck I8 may, if desired, be provided with a steam heating space so as to provide dry heat for the garment undergoing pressing.

At the free end 22 of the buck 18 the perimeter dimension P is sufiiciently long so that it is equal to more than half of the length of the cuff C of a normal shirt sleeve S undergoing pressing, and the remaining portions of the buck 18 are of increasing dimensions towards the left. In accordance with the present invention, a sleeve having a cuff thereon, such as a mans shirt sleeve, may be arranged on the buck and the press closed and a longitudinal portion of the sleeve and the contiguous cufi thus pressed will be slightly more than halfway around the sleeve. The shirt is then rotated and the remaining part of the sleeve and contiguous cuff, with some overlap, is pressed in one more operation. As a result, the entire sleeve may be pressed in two lays.

At the rear of the frame there is a rearwardly and upwardly extending frame arm, generally designated 26 which terminates in a pivot 21 upon which the presser arm 28 is pivotally mounted. The presser arm carries a pressing head 29 which has an interior curvature and shape 30 corresponding to the shape of the buck. The operating mechanism for the presser arm is not illustrated in the drawings but may be of any convenient type such as that of the aforementioned Patent No. 2,265,449. In order to iron the cuffs it is necessary that the pressure exerted by the press head upon the buck be sufficient to dry out and iron the normally double thickness cuff. Cuffs of men's shirts are normally double thickness and hence require greater pressure for ironing than is required for normal sleeve materials. In all prior sleeve presses the free end 22 of the buck has tended to deflect downwardly and the pressure that could be applied was thereby limited. As a result it has not been possible prior to this invention to press cuffs by placing them on the buck at the free end of the sleeve press, therefore in accordance with present day practice the cuffs are left unpressed and are finished in a separate cuff pressing operation. To overcome the difiiculty of deflection of the free end of the press, the present invention includes a temporary support which may be of the type shown in Figures 1-5 or of the of these types.

Referring to Figures 1-5 the main frame it includes a side bracket generally designated 32 which is fastened to the main frame by means of bolts 33. The frame 32 is in-curved as indicated at 34 so as to form the upper bearing support 35 and the lower bearing support 36. The bearing supports are illustrated in section in Figure 5 and are shown supplied with sleeve bearings 3! and 38 of porous bronze or other suitable anti-friction material. Within the journals there is arranged a vertical slide rod generally designated 40 having a rounded upper tip 4!. The frame 32 and the rod 40, which is carried thereon, are positioned so that the rod 40 is capable of being lifted through an aperture M in the table [2 and to a position immediately beneath the protruding lip 25 on the buck Hi. If desired, rod 48 may be simply positioned under the portion 22 of the buck and lip 25 not used, although the form shown is preferred in as much as it produces the least interference with the lay of the sleeve on the buck. A mechanism is provided for lifting the rod 40 to the position shown in Figures 1, 3 and 5 at the start of the pressing operation or during the first free swinging closing motion of the press head. The post 40 is lifted upwardly until it comes into engagement with the lip 25 or to a position within a few thousandths of an inch below the lip 25. When the presser head 30 moves into engagement with the buck l8 and when pressure is thus placed on the buck, the buck is supported by means of the rod 40 which bears against the lip 25 and thus the end 22 of the buck does not deflect downwardly as in prior presses. Accordingly much greater head pressures may be used than heretofore.

The mechanism for lifting the rod 48 includes a pair of side links 42 fastened to pin 43 which is in turn pivoted in the journal 44 of the rod 40. The lower end of each of the links 42 is provided with an outwardly extending pin 45 upon which is mounted a roller wheel 46. The roller wheels 4646 are arranged to roll on the upwardly rising cam plate generally designated 48 which has the curvature shown in Figures 2 and 3. .The plate 48 is carried on the bearing support 36. The rolling movement of the wheels 46 on the cam plate 48 is accomplished by a mechanism including the link 49 which has a bifurcated end 505l which fastens onto the pivot pins 45--45 immediately outside the rollers 4646. The rear end of the link 49 is pivoted upon pin 52 which extends outwardly from the bent arm 55, Figure 4. Arm 55 is in turn supported upon the pivot shaft 56, Figure 4. Shaft 56 is mounted in a pair of spaced journals 51--5|, the latter being merely protuberances on the rear portion 26 of the press frame. The arm 55 is T-shaped and portion 58 of the arm 55 extends into the rear space of the channel between the journals 51. A through pin is provided at Bil which effectively keys the arm 55 to the shaft 56. The shaft 56 extends outside each of the journals 5'! and to each end there is pinned a crank lever 62. Each lever 62 is provided with a roller 63 positioned so as to rest in the elongated cam slot 64 that is a part of the presser arm 28.

When the presser arm is in the open position shown in Figure 2, the roller 63 is in the upper part 65 of the cam slot 64. The position of the cam slot 64 with reference to the path of motion of the presser arm 28 is such that as the presser arm moves from the position shown in Figure 2 to the position shown in Figure 3, the rollers 63 on arms 62 are moved backwardly of the press and ar'cuately in the direction of arrow 66, Figure 2/ Thismotion istransmitted to shaft 58 and arm '55 carried thereby likewise moves in a. corresponding direction as illustrated by the arrow 81, Figure 2. As thearm 55 so moves it forces the link 49 forwardly of the press and hence moves the wheels 46 from the position shown in Figure 2 at the lowermost part of the cam plate upwardly along the inclined surface of the cam plate to the position shown in Figure 3; This motion is transmitted to links 42 which accordingly lift the post 40 from its lower position shown in Figure 2 to the raised or buck-supporting position shown in Figures 1, 3 and 5. In the buck supporting position, Figure 3, the post 48 has a nearly straightdownward thrust upon the links 42 and through the links to wheels 43 resting upon the cam plate 48. Hence, post 48 is supported with great strength and likewise supports the free end 22' of the buck l8 solidly against any downward deflection. It will be noted that the vertical position of post 40 is not appreciably changed by creeping motion of the press head as it settles on the buck because in the position shown in Figure 3 the links 42 are approximately at right angles to the sloping surface of the cam plate 48 on which the wheels 43 roll. Therefore, during the final application of heavy pressure by the press head upon the buck, the slight creeping of wheels 43 upon the cam plate 48 does not produce any appreciable change in position of the post 48, and the press head is. thus free to adjust itself to varying thicknesses of garments and to varying compression of the buck pad without necessitating any adjustment of the mechanism for raising post 48. When the press opens, the post 4!! is retracted to the out-of-the-way position shown in Figure 2, and the garment on the buck may thus be withdrawn without interference.

Referring to Figures 6, '7 and 8 there is illustrated a modified form of the invention. In the mechanism illustrated the main portions of the press including the base l0, buck-supporting arm l6, buck I8, table 12 and presser head 38 are identical with those shown in Figures 1-5. The free end 22 of the buck is in this modification supported by a pneumatically operated movable pillar generally designated 68 which is pivoted 'at 69 upon a stout bracket 18, the latter being attached by means of bolts H to the main frame H1. The pillar 68 is shaped somewhat in the form of a so as to clear the end of table l2 and has tip 12 located so that when the pillar 88rotates around the pivot 69 the tip 12 will move under the lip 25 with slight clearance as indicated at 25a. The clearance may be any small dimension practical, usually ranging from to 100 thousandths of an inch. The pivot pin 69 is carried by the bifurcated ends 13 of the frame member 18 and pivot pin to extends at the rear end so as to receive the crank arm 15 which carries the crankpin 18. The frame member 18 likewise serves to support an air cylinder 18 having a piston rod 19 terminating in a slotted head 88 through which the crank pin 16 passes. The cylinder is pro-, vided with an internal retracting spring not illustrated which normally forces piston rod 19, arm 75 and pillar 68 to the retracted position shown in Figure 8. The pillar 68 is provided with an inwardly extending short lug 82 having a tip 83 thereon. The lug 82 is arranged to move into contact with the pad 89 which may be of leather or rubber, which thus limits the pivotal motion of the pillar 68 under the influence of the air cylinder 18.

Air supply for the press isprovided by pipe and is arranged to be controlledv by the conven-, tional two-hand control illustrated by left-hand valve LH and the right-hand valve RH. When the valves LH and. RH are pressed, air is conducted from line 85 through the intermediate tie line 86 to line 81 and through side branch. 88 directly to the pneumatic cylinder 18. A third automatic valve AV is connected, on the line 90 and is arranged tobe operatedbythe tip 83 on lug 82. A spring 92whichsurrounds the operatingpin 93 of valve AV normally urges the operating pin of the valve upwardly to valve closed position, but. the. operating in is moved downwardly when the tip 83 engages the striker plate 84. When this-occurs, as .illustrated in Figure 6, the valve AV is moving to. open position thus permitting air to flow in thedirection ofarrow 95 to the press operating mechanism. It will thus be observed that when the operator presses the left-hand andright-hand air valve LH and RH, respectively, air is introduced immediately to the cylinder 18 which therefore actuates or rotates the pillararm 68. in the direction of arrow 96 from the position shown in Figure 8' to the position shown in Figures 6. and '7, thus moving the tip 12 of pillar 6B beneath thelip .25 onthe free end of the buck so as to form asupport for the lip and buck [8 when the latter is loadedand starts to deflect downwardly during the pressing operation. When. the pillar .88 has been moved-arcuately to its terminal position shown .in Figure .6, the tip 83 which moves withthe pillar 68, engages the striker plate 84 and thus moves the automatic valve AV to the open position thereby permitting the air to flow from. the line 81 to line 95 and thence to .the press operating mechanism. The presser arm 28-is then actuated and the presser head eil-is moved into engagementwiththe buck l8.- As pressure is applied to the buck the free end 22 of the buck tends todefiect downwardly but its movement is limited to only a few thousandths of an inch, determined by the clearance 2 5a between the lip 25 and the tip 12 of the pillar 68; Therefore, when the lip 25 engages the tip 12, solid support is afforded and further down-' ward movement or deflection of the free end 22 of the buck I8 is prevented. This permits designs in which very heavy head pressures areafforded thus permitting the requisite pressure upon the buck to enable ironing of double thicknesses, such as shirt cuffs, placed on the buck at the free end.

Asmany apparently widely different embodiments of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the specific embodiments herein except as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A pressing machine comprising a frame, a buck, a permanent support extending from the frame to one end of the buck, said buck having a free end which is normally unsupported, a press head adapted to be moved into and out of pressing engagement with the buck, a post, slide bearings on the press frame mounting the post for sliding movement along a substantially vertical line from a low position in which the post is lowered so that its top is retracted to an out-of-theway position to a supporting position in which the top of the post is under a part of the free end of the buck to support the free end of the buck during the pressing operation, a rising cam surface, a link connected at one end to the post and having a portion thereof movable along said rising cam surface, and means connected to the press head for moving said link from a lower part of said cam to an elevated part of said cam and for thereby elevating the post when the press head moves from open towards closed position.

2. A pressing machine comprising a frame, a buck, a permanent support extending from the frame to one end of the buck, said buck having a free end which is normally unsupported so as to allow garments to be sleeved onto the buck, a press head adapted to be moved into and out of pressing engagement with the buck, a support post, slide bearings on the frame mounting the post for vertical sliding movement beneath the free end of the buck, a cam plate having an upwardly sloping surface arranged alongside the post, a first link pivotally connected to the post above said cam surface and having a cam engaging portion operable along said cam surface, a second link connected to the first link for moving the cam engaging portion thereof along said cam surface, a lever arm pivotally mounted on the frame and having a portion thereof connected to said second link for translating the latter and having another portion operably connected to a movable portion of the press to be moved thereby when the press closes for lifting the support post vertically from a low position in which the top of the post is out-of-the-way to an elevated supporting position in which the top of the post is under the free end of the buck to support it as the press head moves from open towards closed position.

3. A pressing machine comprising a frame, a buck, a work table surface on the press below the buck, a permanent support extending from the frame to one end of the buck, said buck having a free end which is normally unsupported so as to allow garments to be sleeved onto the buck, a press head adapted to be moved into and out of pressing engagement with the buck, a support post, slide bearings on the frame mounting the post for vertical sliding movement beneath the free end of the buck, a cam plate having an upwardly sloping surface arranged alongside the post, a first link pivotally connected to the post above said cam surface and having a cam engaging portion operable along said cam surface, a second link connected to the first link for moving the cam engaging portion thereof along said cam surface, a lever arm pivotally mounted on the frame and having a portion thereof connected to said second link for translating the latter and having another portion operably connected to a movable portion of the press to be moved thereby when the press closes for lifting the support post vertically from a low position in which the top of the post is out-of-the-way below the surface of the work table, to an elevated supporting position in which the top of the post is under the free end of the buck to support it as the press head moves from open towards closed position.

4. A pressing machine comprising a frame, a buck, a permanent support extending from the frame to one end of the buck, said buck having a free end which is normally unsupported so as to allow garments to be sleeved onto the buck, a press head mounted on a press arm and adapted to be moved into and out of pressing engagement with the buck, a support post, slide bearings on the frame mounting the post for vertical sliding movement beneath the free end of the buck, a cam plate having an upwardly sloping surface arranged alongside the post, a first link pivotally connected to the post above said cam surface and having a cam engaging portion operable along said cam surface, a second link connected to the first link for moving the cam engaging portion thereof along said cam surface, a lever arm pivotally mounted on the frame and having a portion thereof connected to said second link for translating the latter, a cam surface on the press arm positioned to cooperate with another portion of the pivoted lever arm for pivotally moving it as the press closes in a direction so as to lift the support post vertically from a low position in which the top of the post is out-of-the-way to an elevated supporting position in which the top of the post is under the free end of the buck to support it as the press head moves from open towards closed position.

IRA C. MAXWELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS NlLl'lbel Name Date 1,554,511 Leary Sept. 22, 1925 1,823,181 Winnewisser Sept. 15, 1931 1,875,993 Davis Sept. 6, 1932 1,954,988 Davis Apr. 17, 1934 1,958,533 Davis May 15, 1934 1,975,849 Jacker Oct. 9, 1934 1,995,093 Clare Mar. 19, 1935 2,265,449 Raynolds Dec, 9, 1941 2,362,105 Steinberg Nov. 7, 1944 2,365,448 Bicknell et al Dec. 19, 1944 

